Maryam Nawaz slams PM Imran Khan, says early Senate elections cannot save govt
PML-N vice-present Maryam Nawaz addressing a news conference in Lahore, on December 17, 2020. — YouTube/Hum News Live
Lashing out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz said Thursday that the govt will "go home" albeit it manages to carry Senate elections before schedule.
Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Maryam said: "If you're not suffering from PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) jalsas, as you say, then why is there an emergency to carry elections — and this has never happened in Pakistan's history."
Maryam asked the govt why it "changed its strategy" if it's unaffected by the PDM rallies.
"They have understood that they need limited days in office [...] Despite your tactics, you'll need to head home ," the PML-N vice chairman said.
She blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan for "destroying" national institutions by dragging them into politics for his own interests.
"You became a self-proclaimed FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) chairman, you became a self-proclaimed FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) chairman, and now you would like to become the chairman of the committee ," Maryam said, during a jibe at Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Maryam said that the committee of Pakistan has the authority to carry and announce elections, and it had been not the prerogative of the prime minister to try to to so.
'Making Supreme Court controversial'
"Have you not read the Constitution? Did your army of ministers and special assistants not inform you that it is not your right?" she asked, adding: "And now you would like to incorporate your required way of elections."
Maryam said that the prime minister was making the Supreme Court "controversial" by involving it within the matter of introducing the "show of hands" method for Senate elections.
The PML-N leader said that she wasn't against "show of hands"; however, Maryam claimed that the motive behind the government's move "was not transparent".
"You forgot the show of hands method when the vote of no-confidence motion was moved against the Senate speaker. You used the state's machinery to influence the vote."
Maryam claimed that not only did PM Imran Khan support the key balloting method, but he took full advantage of it also . "However, now that your government is slipping away [...] you would like to introduce the show of hands method."
'Govt cannot bulldoze current voting method'
Maryam said that the govt couldn't bulldoze the present voting method via an ordinance because it required a Constitutional amendment to try to to so.
"The Supreme Court cannot make laws, only the Parliament can," she stressed.
Speaking about what the PML-N aims to try to to against the government's move, she said that a final judgment would be made through the PDM's platform.
"You cannot tamper with the Constitution for your personal gain, and that we won't allow you to try to to so," she said.
"Foreign funding case (of PTI) could be the longest pending case in Pakistan's history. Despite the presence of irrefutable evidence, it's clear that this 'fake' government' is pressuring the ECP," she said.
Maryam, responding to an issue , said that the govt cannot hold an election if the Opposition resigns.
"In the photo that you simply shared of yourself together with your dogs during PDM's Lahore jalsa, you were not calming down your dogs, you were calming your own fears," Maryam said.
'Playing with dogs and institutions different'
She said that the very fact that the photo was issued at the time reflects the premier's "fears" and "psyche". "Playing with dogs and state institutions are two various things . you'll need to pay an important price for doing that," Maryam warned the prime minister.
"Just like he's the chairman of other institutions, i think that he's also the chairman of NAB (National Accountability Bureau)," she said while responding to an issue over the apex court's comments over the anti-graft watchdog.
Commenting on PML-N's internal matters, she said that the party has always remained united despite "testing and trying times" within the past. "There is not any divide within the party although, PML-N goes through a troublesome phase."
Ali Wazir's arrest
Maryam said that the PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif backs the PDM's decision which he was able to submit his resignation. "The news circulating about (his meeting with Bilawal) is contrary to the very fact ."
Talking about whether the Opposition would hold talks with the govt on election reforms, she said: "This is an installed government, and therefore the time for talks is over."
Maryam, commenting on MNA Ali Wazir's arrest, said that she condemns the lawmaker's arrest. "It will cause cracks to seem in Pakistan's unity; we are all equal Pakistanis."
Govt decides to carry early elections
Maryam's news conference comes after the govt decided to carry Senate elections in February rather than March 2021, sources had informed Geo News.
The decision was taken on Tuesday during a gathering of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Addressing a post-cabinet meeting news conference , Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that the PTI-led government is striving to form the Senate elections free and fair.
"Controversies have always surrounded the Senate elections. it's such an old practice that it's assumed that within the elections, [horse trading] will surely happen ," he said.
He said that the Supreme Court had issued a brief order regarding free and fair elections, following which the govt had introduced a bill within the National Assembly.
The information minister said that the govt pondered getting the bill ratified through several means — either through a constitutional amendment, executive order, or the committee .
After pondering over the matter, the govt decided to maneuver the apex court regarding the matter, he said, adding that the govt seeks an election that's conducted through "show of hands".
Faraz said that the govt expects to urge guidance from the Supreme Court long before the Senate elections.
"This is in favour of all parties," he said.
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